33-1-711. Appeals from the commissioner. (1) An appeal from the commissioner may be taken only from an order on hearing or with respect to a matter as to which the commissioner has refused a hearing. Any person who was a party to the hearing or whose pecuniary interests are directly and immediately affected by any order or refusal and who is aggrieved by an order or refusal may, within 30 days after the order has been mailed or delivered to the persons entitled to receive the same, the commissioner's order denying rehearing or reargument has been so mailed or delivered, or the commissioner's refusal to grant a hearing, appeal from the order on hearing or the refusal of a hearing. Any request for a stay of the commissioner's order must be made within 60 days, to run concurrently with the 30 days for appeal. The appeal must be taken to the district court of Lewis and Clark County by filing written notice of appeal in the court and by filing a copy of the notice with the commissioner, except that in appeals from the suspension or revocation of the certificate of authority of a domestic insurer or of the license of an insurance producer or surplus lines insurance producer, the person taking the appeal may at his option, in lieu of the district court of Lewis and Clark County, take the appeal to the district court of the county of Montana in which the insurer has its principal place of business or the licensee resides.
     (2) Upon filing of the notice of appeal, the court has full jurisdiction and shall determine whether the filing operates as a stay of the order or action appealed from.
     (3) Within 20 days after filing of the copy of the notice of appeal in his office, the commissioner shall make and return to the court in which the appeal is pending a copy of his order appealed from and a full and complete transcript, duly certified by the commissioner, of his record of the hearing upon which the order was issued, together with all exhibits and documentary evidence introduced at the hearing. If the appeal is from an action of the commissioner with respect to which a hearing was refused, the commissioner shall, within the 20-day period, make and return to the court a full and complete transcript, duly certified by him, of all documents on file in his office directly relating to the matter as to which the appeal is taken.
     (4) Upon receipt of the transcripts and evidence, the court shall hear the matter as soon as reasonably possible thereafter. Upon the hearing of the appeal, the court shall consider the evidence contained in the transcript, exhibits, and documents filed by the commissioner, together with additional proper evidence as may be offered by any party to the appeal.
     (5) After hearing the appeal, the court may affirm, modify, or reverse the order or action of the commissioner, in whole or in part, or remand the action to the commissioner for further proceedings in accordance with the court's direction.
     (6) Costs must be awarded as in civil actions.
     (7) Appeal may be taken to the supreme court from the judgment of the district court as in other civil cases to which the state is a party. A stay of the effectiveness of any judgment may be made only by order of the supreme court upon the giving of security as that court considers proper.
     (8) This section does not apply to appeals as to matters covered by chapter 16.

     History: En. Sec. 44, Ch. 286, L. 1959; R.C.M. 1947, 40-2725; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 119, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 537, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 713, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 798, L. 1991.